Multiple clutch mechanism



Oct. 30, 1951 Filed Nov. '7, 194'? C. GERST MULTIPLE CLUTCH MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet; l

INVENTOR.

CHRIS GERST Oct. 30, 1951 Filed Nov. 7, 1947 c. GERST MULTIPLE CLUTCH MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. CHRIS GERST Oct. 30, 1951 c, GERST 2,573,135

MULTIPLE CLUTCH MECHANISM I Filed Nov. 1194? 4 Sheets-Sheet a IN VEN TOR.

CHR/s GERST Oct. 30, 1951 c, GERST 2,573,135

MULTIPLE CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 7, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 llllwm 35 Flt-3.14 1 15-15 INVENTOR.

a/m/s 557857 Patented Oct. 30, 1951 MULTIPLE CLUTCH MECHANISM Chris Gerst, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Transmission & Gear Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 7, 1947, Serial No. 784,681

This invention relates in general to friction clutches in which independently rotatable driving and driven members are coupled with each other by a plurality of friction disks, brought into frictional cooperation by clamping the disks between backing and pressure plate structures, and is more particularly concerned with improvements in dual friction clutches of the type disclosed in my copending application for Clutch Mechanism, Ser. No. 728,842, filed February 15, 1947, now Patent No. 2,551,939, issued May 9, 1951. This type of frictional clutches includes a pressure plate structure with axially spaced pressure plates and a backing plate structure positioned between the spaced pressure plates and cooperating therewith in selectively actuating clutch disk assemblies by shifting of the pressure plate structure with respect to the backing plate structure in opposite directions.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved two-way friction clutch of the type referred to above which includes a pressure plate structure having axially spaced pressure plates, a backing plate structure positioned between the pressure plates, and clutch disk assemblies positioned between the pressure plates at opposite sides of the backing plate structure for selective actuation of the clutch disk assemblies by axial shifting of the pressure plate structure with respect to the backing plate structure in opposite directions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a two-way friction clutch of the type referred to above which includes cooperating, slidably engaged backing plate and pressure plate structures, of which the backing plate structure is positioned between axially spaced pressure plates of the pressure plate structure which includes clutch disk assemblies positioned between the pressure plates and the backing plate structure at opposite sides thereof, and which includes shiftable means operatively engaged with the pressure plate structure for selectively actuating the clutch disk assemblies when the pressure plate assembly is shifted with respect to the backing plate structure in opposite directions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a two-way friction clutch of the type referred to above, in which the pressure plate structure and the shiftable means are operatively engaged with each other by a rocking clutch lever member pivoted to the backing plate structure and linked to the pressure plate structure.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a two-way friction clutch of the type referred to ab in which the backing plate 12 Claims. (01. 192-48) structure embodies two axially spaced backing plates axially shiftably' mounted with respect to each other to permit joint and individual adjustment of the backing plates of the backing plate structure with respect to the pressure plates of the pressure plate structure.

With the above and other incidental objects in View, the invention has other marked improvements and superiorities which radically distinguish it from presently known structures. These improvements or superior characteristics embodying certain novel features of construction are clearly set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinafter shown with reference to the accompanying drawings formin part of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a reversible transmission embodying a two-way clutch structure according to the invention for direct and reverse rotation of the output shaft of the transmission.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view through the reversible transmission disclosing the reversible gearing.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view of the gearing of the transmission shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through the two- ,way clutch structure shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is another cross sectional view through the two-way clutch structure shown in Fig. 1, the

section being taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is another fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the slide member actuating the rocking member to effect shifting of the pressure plate structure.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the slide member shown in Fig. 8, the section being taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 10 through 16 show the pressure plate and backing plate structures of the two-way clutch in disassembled condition, thus Fig. 10 is a sectional view through a pressure plate of the pressure plate structure;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the body member of the pressure plate structure, and

Fig. 12 is an end view of the body member shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view through one of the adjusting rings for one of the backing plates of the backing plate structure;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view through the backing plate which cooperates with the adjusting ring shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view through the body of the backing plate structure, and

Fig. 16' is an end view of the body shown in Fig. 15.

Referring fn'ow'imore particularly to the exemplified form of the transmission and clutch structure shown in the drawings, reference numeral 2 denotes a transmission embodying a housing 3 which is secured at its one end by bolts 4 to the housing 5 of a motor 6. Housing 3 has journaled therein a main shaft l'whichlis directly coupled by gears 8 and '9 with the drive shaft ID of motor 6 and selectively coupled by a two-way clutch structure ll and-gearing I2, later to be described, with the outputshaft 14 of transmission 2.

.The .two-way clutch structure I I, which is supjp'orted'on the splinedportion I-5of main shaft "1, embodies apres'sureplate structure I6 and'a backing plate structural-1 slidably and non-rotatably coupled with each'iother' for joint rotation by shaft '1. Thesep'ressure plates"and"backing ,plate structures are :non rotatably and axially shiftably .interengagedw'ith' each other, -so that pressure structure "f6 is arranged substantially within backing 'plate' structure IT to efiect' selective coupling of main shaft 'l with output shaft l4 :by either one of two individual clutch disk assemblies lflland I'9' arranged within the pressureplate structure-lat'opposite sides of the'backingplate'structure.

Pressure plate 's'tructureI'B consists of a cylindrical body 20, the peripheral wall 2| of which is radially slotted .to provide bddy'26 withaplu- "rality of radial 'slots"'22. ."I'h'is"body has one end ,partly closed byla'ring-shapedplate 23,- secured to body 20'by bolts"24,'-and*itsotherend-inwardly 'fia'nged to provide the"'body"with afl-anged portion 25 opposed to ring-shapedplate '23. In addition b dy 20 includes :earportions 2 6 integrally extended from the "outside face of flanged portion 25.

'The "thus constructed "pressure plate structure LB is slidably and' nomrotatably engaged with the backing plate structure I"1"'which "includes backingplates '21, 2 8 (positionedbetween' the ringshaped plate 23 and the fiangedportiorr'25 of the jpressure iplate structure and "slidably and monrotatably engagedwithltlieperipheral wall 2| of said pressure pl-ate structure by radial driving lugs 25} extended through the radial slots 22.

Backing plate structure I! embodies a cupshaped body 30 which dimensioned to be sleeved upon the bo'dy znof pressure platestructure I 6' and'lias' extended from its wall 31 an internally splined, slottedhub member 32 mounting body 30 .on the splind portion of mainshaft "I and securely .held 'inproper position by 'a snapring '34. The peripheralwall35 of body 30 is ex- .ternally threaded and, in addition, radially s'lo'tted' to provide said "wa'll with-a plurality of slots 36 sized and" arran'ge' d"*to fit--and align with the radial slots 22 *in'thebody of the pressure plate structure I6 to permit proper engagement of body 30withthedrivinglugs 29 on backme plates-21, 28 of "backi'ngplate structure I'I. These backing" plates, Whi'chpxterid between the ring s'haped'plate 2'3" and "the flanged portion of the pressure plate structure, are held in proper position by 'adjustmentrings 31 "threadedly enga'ged withthe threaded peripheral-wall of body and held in adjusted position "by .springpressed piungers "'38 "extended" into circumferentially arranged bores 39 in the side walls 40 of adjustment rings 31.

This arrangement of the backing plates 21 and 28 and their mounting provides a medium for adjusting the relative clamping position between the pressure plates and the backing plates, as the friction disks of-clutch disk assemblies I-8 and I9 wear and it becomes necessar 'to readjust the relative initial position between the pressure plates and backing plates owing to the fixed range pof=movement of the operating mechanism later to be described. Adjustment is effected by shifting of the backing plates when the adjustment rings 31, which are threadedly engaged with the body 30 of the "backing plate structure, are rotated to effect axial shifting of the backing plates.

The pressure plate structure, which is thus slidably and non-rotatablyisupported by the backing plate structure, is shifted in'opposite directions toactuate -either one of the tWO 'C111tCh"diSk:aS semblies I8 and I9, later to be describedfby dual 'clutch levers 4| pivotally mounted :on shafts 42 bridging slots 43 in slctted hub member 3215f body :36. These dual clutchrlevers include a third lever arm 44 linking the dual=clutch leversto the ear portions '26 of body 12]] of pressure 'plate structure I6 by means of links 45 extended throughslots lfl. Dual clutch levers ll 'each'embody a pair of rollers 46, 41:rotatably'mountedbetween oppositely arranged plates 48 and 'are actuated by a shifting member49 which is coupled by a ball bearing 50 with a throw-out collar 5| actuated by a fork 52. The shifting member- 49 is slidably mounted on the reduced end portion 53 of main shaft I and, when shifted toward the two-way clutch structure,:engages with the inclined surfaces 54 of its extended jaws-55 the roller-46'of the dual clutch-levers andefiects'tilting of these levers. Sucntilting of the dual clutch levers-effects shiftingof-the pressure plate structure toward the right until the clutch -disk assembly I8 is tightly gripped between ringshaped ,plate 23 and backing plate 21. When shifting member 49 is "shifted in the-opposite direction, awayfrom the two-way clutch structure, rollers 4 of the dual clutch levers engage the oppositely inclined surface'56 of the jaws of-rthe shifting member, so that (the pressure ,plate structure is shifted toward the left until-[the clutch disk assembly I 9 is tightly gripped between flanged portion 25 and backing plate 28. The shifting member 49, which-includes -on its :jaws grooves-51 separating the-oppositely inclined-surfaces54 and 56 from each-other, is slidably-and non-rotatably coupled with the backing plate structure bydimensioning jaws 55, sothattthese jaws snugly and slidably fit the slots 43 in body 30.

The thus described positive locking type clutch structure-which includes a readily accessible, effective adjusting meanslis particularly .wll suited to beplaced on the outside. of the housing of a transmission to facilitatequick and economical servicing and repairingbf-the clutch structure without disassembly of thetransmission necessary in conventional"constructions. having-their clutches located within their'housings.

' Coupling ofthe clutch structure with-a transmission is effected by clutch disk assemblies-A8 and I 9. Thus, clutch disk-assembly 48 includes friction driven: disks 58, 'non-rotatablyand axial- 1y shiftably secured tothezenlarged splinedend portion 59 of adriven tubular shaft fill, arranged 1 rotatably and concentrically withzrespect tozthe rotatably and axially shiftably secured toxthe internally toothed peripheral .wall 2| of. body 26], and the clutch disk assembly I9 includes friction driven disks 62, non-rotatably and axiallyshiftably secured to the enlarged splined end portion 63 of a second driven tubular shaft 64 arranged rotatably and concentrically with respect to tubular shaft 66 and main shaft 1, and a friction driving disk 65, nonerotatably and axially shiftably secured to the internally toothed peripheral wallZl ofbodyZO. 1 1

Tubular shaft 60, the forward drive shaft, is coupled by its gear section 66, double idlergear 61 on countershaft 68 and gear 69 with the out- I put shaft I 4, and tubular shaft 64, the'reverse drive shaft, is coupled by its pinion H1, double idler gear H on a second countershaft 12, double idler gear 61 on countershaft 68 andgear 6 9'with the said output shaft.

A hood-shaped cover member 13' secured to housing 3 protects the described clutch structure and permits ready and easy access for adjustment and repair.

In describing the operation of the two-way clutch structure it will be assumed that, as shown in Fig. 1, the pressure plate structure is in neutral position and main shaft 1 and hence all elements of the clutch structure, except friction driven disks 58 and 62, are rotating. If it is desired to directly drive output shaft 14 in the same direction as main shaft 1, fork 52 is actuated to shift shifting member 49 toward the clutch structure to tilt dual clutch levers 4| outwardly and shift the pressure plate structure toward the right until clutch disk assembly l8, arranged between ring-shaped plate 23 and backing plate 2?, is actuated and couples main shaft '1 with tubular shaft 6!] effecting by means of gear section 66, double idler gear 61 and gear 69 rotation of the output shaft I 4 in the direction of rotation of main shaft 1. A reverse drive is transmitted to output shaft [4 when fork 52 is actuated to shift shifting member 49 away from the clutch structure to tilt dual clutch levers 4| inwardly and shift the pressure plate structure toward the left until clutch disk assembly l9, arranged between flanged portion 25 and backing plate 28, is actuated and couples main shaft 1 with tubular shaft 64, effecting by means of pinion 10, double idler gear H, double idler gear 61 and gear 69 rotation of the output shaft M in a direction opposite to the rotation of main shaft 1.

Having thus described my invention:

What I claim is:

1. In dual clutch mechanism, the combination of two clutch devices including jointly a single backing plate structure fixed against axial movement, a single shiftable pressure plate structure with a body and two laterally spaced pressure plate means mounted on said body, said pressure plate means having said backing plate structurepartly arranged therebetween, a single dual clutch lever pivotally mounted on said backing plate structure and linked to the pressure plate structure, and shiftable means adapted to tilt said dual clutch lever in opposite directions to effect selective cooperation of either one of said pressure plate means with said backing plate structure.

2. In dual clutch mechanism, the combination of two clutch devices including jointly a single backing plate structure fixed against axial movementhaving laterally spaced backing plate means, and a single shiftable pressure plate structure with a body rigidly mounting two laterally spaced pressure plate means having the backing plate means of said backing plate structure arranged between the pressure plate means, said backing plate structure embodying a substantially cupshaped body portion encircling and slidably mounting said shiftable pressure plate structure and axially adjustably supporting said backing plate means.

3. Dual clutch mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein the backing plate means consists of two backing plates axially slidably and nonrotatably interlocked with the cup-shaped body of said backing plate structure, and backing rings for said backing plates threadedly engaged with said body and adapted to adjust the backing position of said backing plates when such backing rings are rotated on said body.

4. Dual clutch mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein each backing plate means consists of a backing plate having lug portions radially extended therefrom, wherein the cup-shaped body includes radial slots in its peripheral wall, wherein the lug portions of each backing plate extend through the radial slots in said body and couple the backing plate axially slidably and nonrotatably with said body, and wherein each backing plate is adjustably held in proper working position by a backing ring threadedly engaged with the outwardly threaded peripheral wall of said body portion.

5. Dual clutch mechanism as described in claim 4, wherein one of the radial lugs of each of said backing plates mounts a spring-pressed plunger, and wherein each backing ring includes circumferentially arranged locking means cooperating with the respective spring-pressed plunger in looking the backing ring in its adjusted positions with respect to the backing plate.

6. In dual clutch mechanism, the combination of two clutch devices jointly including cooperating backing and pressure plate structures slidably and non-rotatably interengaged with each other, the backing plate structure including a body mounting two laterally spaced backing plate means, and the pressure plate structure including a body mounting two laterally spaced pressure plates having the backing plate means arranged therebetween, a single dual clutch lever pivotally mounted on said backing plate structure and linked to said pressure plate structure, and actuating means for said dual lever means slidably and non-rotatably engaged with said backing plate structure.

7. In dual clutch mechanism, the combination of two clutch devices jointly including cooperating backing and pressure plate structures slidably and non-rotatably interengaged with each other, the backing plate structure having a substantially cup-shaped body and backing plate means mounted in said body, and the pressure plate structure having two axially spaced pressure plates positioned in said body and having the backing plate means arranged therebetween, dual clutch lever means pivotally supported on said body and extended thereinto through slots in its wall, link means extending through the wall, link means extending through the wall of said body thereinto and coupling said dual clutch lever means with said pressure plate structure, and actuating means for said dual clutch lever means including portions slidably and nonrotatably extended into said body through its slots for actuating said dual clutch lever means.

8. Dual clutch mechanism as described in amam 7 :claim 7, wherein actuating means ccon'sists of an axially shiftable member axially aligned with said backing and pressure:plateistructures, said member having symmetrically" arrangedjaw members provided withAoppositely-inclined outer contact surfaces, wherein the jaw -members rof said actuating means 'extend'slidably and-monrotatably into said body through said slots, and wherein the inclined contact surfacesmi .-;said jaw members engage the ,saididualclutchlever means to be adapted to effect shifting not the pressure .plate structure in opposite lflilBCtiOIlS when the actuating pmeans .are shifted :in :opposite directions.

9. Dual clutch :mechanism as described in claim 7, whereinzsaid actuatingymeans :consists of. an axially shiitable' memberhavingasymmetrically arranged jaw members provided with ppositely inclined outer-contact surfaces separated by *a locking :groove between saidsurfaces, :and wherein said jaw members extend through :the slots into said body, contact-with their inclined contact surfaces said :dual .clutch lever :means when in neutral position and:havethezend ."por- ,tions of the dual clutch-leverzmeansrrestingiin the grooves of said jaw memberswhen-rthe zdual clutch lever means are shifted into clutching position.

10. In dual .iclutch mechanismthe combination of two clutch devices including zjointlyza single backing plate structure including :a cup-shaped body mounting backing-plate means and atpressure plate structure including-a body axially extended into said backing r-plate structure and axially shiftably supported-thereby, said'fpressure plate structure embodying laterally-spaced pressure plate means mountedon-the-body :andhaving said backing plate means :arranged atherebetween, friction driving and ,dIiVGII'TCllltCh elements "arranged within the body 10f said 'pressure :plate structure, between theapressure'rplate means *and backing plate means, and'shiftingtmeans mounted on the cup-shaped body :of saidlbackingy plate structuraandrlinked tmsaidclamping plate structuresforsselectively actuating'tsaid friction:;drivingrand drivemclutch'zelements.

v1'1. In dual clutchim'echanism the combination of two .clutch devices :includ-ing jointly :a backing plate-structure having two adjustably supported :backing plate ':members and a pressure plate structure encircled by said backing 'platerstructure-rand' axially shiftably mounted therein; said pressure nplate structure embodying two axially spaced pressure plate means, said two backing plate members being positioned' betweenhthe two pressure plate means, -driving' and 'driven' clutch elements arranged between the pressure' plate means and the respective backing plate members, andshitting meansfor'sai'd pressure plate structure adapted' to effectzselective actuation of the clutch devices when said pressure plate structure is s'hif-ted in opposite directions.

12. Dual clutch mechanism such'as described in plaim "11, including adjusting and-backing means for said backing plate members said'adjust'ing and backing means being mounted on said backing plate structure and encircling'same.

CHRIS GERST.

REFERENCES 'CITED The'following references are .of record in the file of this patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,743,460 Klausmeyeret a1. 'Jan.il4,1930 1,845,332 Reece et a1 ;-Feb.'.16, 1932 2,379,023 Miller June 26, 1945 2,396,456 Campodonico Mar. 12,1946 2,472,750 Lavash June7, 1949 2,488,540 Hollingsworth .Nov. '22, 1949 FOREIGN .PA'IENTS Number Country -Date 432,287 Great Britain July 24,1935 

